Smog fueled by raging Indonesian blazes has hit Singapore and Malaysia many times, and it is into the seventeenth year that this affects the people. The haze often comes in the middle of the year, with air that smell burnt and with many pollutants, PSI ever hit a record high of 400 and it's own country over 2000.
The haze aggravate respiratory ailments, eyes allergies, skin disorders, dizzy spells and affects workers whom are working outdoors the most. Even the Chickens are dying by the millions in a month, farm produce is dwindling, vegetables are wilting, and end consumers are set to be the biggest losers - all because of the haze.
Schools were forced to close, hospitals shut windows in wards with elderly patients to keep out the acrid odour of burning. Sports organisers cancelled outdoor competitions and flight controllers were instructed to take precautions because of lower visibility, while fast food giant McDonald's said it was temporarily halting delivery service to protect its workers' health.
Though officials in Singapore say Jakarta must do more to halt fires on Sumatra island started with intention by plantation owners and farmers to clear land cheaply. As people from the Asian countries have to put up with the air pollution caused by the blazing of Indonesia's palm oil. But after seventeen years, nothing concrete was implemented by the Indonesian government.
Smog fueled by raging Indonesian blazes has hit Singapore and Malaysia many times, and it is into the seventeenth year that this affects the people. The haze often comes in the middle of the year, with air that smell burnt and with many pollutants, PSI ever hit a record high of 400 and it's own country over 2000.
The haze aggravate respiratory ailments, eyes allergies, skin disorders, dizzy spells and affects workers whom are working outdoors the most. Even the Chickens are dying by the millions in a month, farm produce is dwindling, vegetables are wilting, and end consumers are set to be the biggest losers - all because of the haze.
Schools were forced to close, hospitals shut windows in wards with elderly patients to keep out the acrid odour of burning. Sports organisers cancelled outdoor competitions and flight controllers were instructed to take precautions because of lower visibility, while fast food giant McDonald's said it was temporarily halting delivery service to protect its workers' health.
Though officials in Singapore say Jakarta must do more to halt fires on Sumatra island started with intention by plantation owners and farmers to clear land cheaply. As people from the Asian countries have to put up with the air pollution caused by the blazing of Indonesia's palm oil. But after seventeen years, nothing concrete was implemented by the Indonesian government.
Singapore has been affected by severe smoke haze due to forest fires in the region periodically. This is due to the common practice of open burning to clear land for agricultural uses which is not Eco-friendly at all. It can be made worse by dry seasons, changes in wind direction and poor precipitation. Prevailing winds sometimes carry smoke haze produced by the forest fires over Singapore’s skies. This is especially so during the Southwest Monsoon Season.
The Indonesian government hit back, accusing Singapore of acting "like a child" and insisting it was doing everything it could to stop the forest fires.
"Singapore should not be behaving like a child and making all this noise," the minister coordinating Indonesia's response, told reporters. "This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature."
Tell the Indonesian government that we are not being childish or acting like a kid to demand for good air, but this should be a basic necessity which is as natural as how we eat, drink, breathe, live. Indonesia should come out a concrete solution on how to educate, control and prevent their farmers from blazing the palm forestry. Good air comes with the love of the planet earth and not destroying, and is a part for everyone to play.
